Seed Treatment Stewardship Promoted at Classic

Cindy ZimmermanASTA, Audio, Commodity Classic, seed, sustainability

ASTA Seed Treatment GuideWe first heard about “The Guide to Seed Treatment Stewardship” last year at Commodity Classic.

The second phase roll out of the guide – produced by the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) in collaboration with organizations like the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association and American Farm Bureau – began this year and we heard more about it from ASTA VP for Government and Regulatory Affairs Jane DeMarchi.

classic14-asta-jane“The Guide to Seed Treatment Stewardship was created to touch all aspects of seed applied technology,” said Jane. “Our goal is to emphasize stewardship practices across crops and treatment segments and to minimize the risk of seed dust exposure to pollinators.”

Jane says they have developed videos about seed treatment stewardship and began taking them on the road this year to state and national corn, soybean and farm bureau meetings, and she says awareness of pollinator issues is growing among farmers across the country.

Learn more here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/commodity-classic/classic14-asta-guide.mp3″ text=”Press conference with Jane DeMarchi, ASTA”]
2014 Commodity Classic Photos
Coverage is sponsored by John Deere

Precision Aerial Ag Show

Chuck ZimmermanAgNerd, Agribusiness

Precision Aerial Ag ShowIt might not be quite the same as a show put on by the Blue Angels but . . . For you agnerds out there it sounds pretty exciting. It’s the Precision Aerial Ag Show. Here’s the tentative agenda. The PAAS is powered by Farm Industry News and Farm Progress Events.

The event will be held in Progress City USA, Decatur, IL, July 9-10, 2014. It is being billed as a first of its kind outdoor event.

This event is designed to draw farm operators and other potential users of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) technology who are interested in the use of unmanned aerial systems to identify crop stress issues, inspect elevated or unreachable locations, and other innovative agricultural uses. The show is designed to be a working show with UAV demonstrations, along with professional presentations on FAA regulations, UAV capabilities, liabilities, and other issues about UAV use.

Nutrient Management with OptRx

Melissa SandfortAg Leader, Insights Weekly

Insights Weekly At the 2014 Commodity Classic, Ag Leader Technology sponsored a learning session focused on using crop sensors to find out what your crops need.

Ag Leader did a study in 2009 that showed the advantages of using their OptRx crop sensor technology. OptRx Crop Sensor Product Specialist Chad Fick says this product has been around for six years now and growers are showing more interest as nutrient management becomes a bigger concern.

Chad says OptRx can be a helpful tool for farmers. Listen to Cindy Zimmerman’s interview with Chad from Commodity Classic.

[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2014/03/classic14-agleader-chad.mp3″ text=”Listen to Fick explain”]

Become a fan of Ag Leader on Facebook today, and get the latest precision ag videos on the YouTube channel. For more information about Ag Leader products and services, or to visit the blog site, go to www.agleader.com.

iCropTrak with One Tap Data Entry

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, Apps, Audio, Video

iCT SoilOne tap data entry. Because as Aaron Hutchinson, President, Cogent3D, says, “Every click is money.” That’s part of the improvements in the latest release of iCropTrak. Aaron says the company has also created a new version of the product called iCropTrak Soil. This version provides a lower cost alternative for those who don’t need an advanced system.

In addition to Rapid Scouting enhancements like Rapid Observation and Action Items, the new iCropTrak includes a series of augmented map functions to make field understanding fast and easy.

  • Map Annotations to provide additional map reference data
  • Work Order Status Annotations to provide where and what quickly
  • Follow Me Upgrade to keep you on the map at any speed
  • Map Sketch to allow you to draw on the map and save results for reports
  • Recent Forms puts field history in chronological order

Version 4.1 includes the first mobile parts of the upcoming MyJohnDeere.com integration: On-demand data downloading. On-Demand let’s you download only the data you need for the time you need it, then remove it from your iPad when done to have space for other efforts. At multiple gigabytes per field for planting, as-applied, and harvest data, On-Demand provides users control over their data and provides the first peek at the new user definable statistical legends that colorize the data on the fly based on its attributes.

Aaron Hutchinson, Cogent3D President shared the company’s excitement regarding this release stating: “The One Tap Observation capability to mark weeds, pests, and diseases is a labor break-thru in a market where every click is money. ”

You can listen to my interview with Aaron here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/icroptrak/icroptrak-update-3-13-14.mp3″ text=”Interview with Aaron Hutchinson”]

Here’s a demo of iCropTrak Soil:

Introducing – iCropTrak Soil from Cogent3D on Vimeo.

Davis Real-Time Weather Monitor Wins Award

John Davisweather

vantageconnectA real-time remote weather monitor has been recognized at the 2014 Connected World Conference in Chicago. The Vantage Connect, Davis Instruments’ solar-powered weather telematics data logger, was honored for providing real-time weather conditions for precision agriculture and is used by companies such as Finland’s Vapo, to manage harvests, document required weather conditions and share data.

“With the growing need to manage water resources, protect crops from frost and mitigate damage to our environment, we believe that remote weather data is more important than ever.” said Susan Foxall, Marketing Director, Davis Instruments. “Vantage Connect provides real-time information that allows users to respond to environmental conditions when they happen. For companies like Vapo, this translates to right-time harvesting while adhering to Finland’s environmental stewardship requirements.”

Vantage Connect runs on solar power, so it doesn’t require an external power source and uses the cellular network to transmit weather data to the Internet. Users also get real-time alerts for specific weather conditions via text messages and emails. It can also be paired with any of Davis’ integrated sensor suites or special purpose stations to create a remote, location specific, stand-alone weather station.

Davis also won a Connected World award for CarChip ConnectR, Davis’ telematics solution for fleet monitoring.

Opinion About Open Ag Data Alliance?

Jamie JohansenZimmPoll

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What’s your favorite fish?”

Looks like grilled is a favorite by a landslide. Personally, I agree. I didn’t learn to like fish until later in life and still don’t cook it often, but love when someone makes it for me. It is interesting to see all the fast-food chains adding a fish sandwich to their menu this time of year. Maybe we should have added fish sticks to the list.

Our poll results:

  • Pan Fried – 11%
  • Deep Fried – 19%
  • Poached – 3%
  • Baked – 9%
  • Grilled – 35%
  • Smoked – 9%
  • Soup – 0%
  • Don’t eat fish – 11%
  • Other – 3%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What do you think of the Open Ag Data Alliance?”

The Open Ag Data Alliance (OADA), an open standards software project to ensure farmers have full data access, security and privacy, has officially been launched with the goal of enabling farmers to have flexibility and control over data-driven decisions on their farm. What do you think about it? Do you think there is a need for this – or do you even understand it at all? Let us know!

Cultivate & Connect with AgChat

Cindy ZimmermanAgChat, Events, General, social media

AgChat 2014 ConferenceCalling all aspiring agvocates. The 2014 AgChat Foundation, Cultivate and Connect Conference will be held in Austin, TX, on August 21-22.

It has been said that everything is bigger in Texas. The AgChat Foundation’s 2014 Cultivate & Connect conference to be held at the Radisson Hotel & Suites in beautiful downtown Austin, Texas, August 21-22, 2014, will be no exception. For the first time, our annual conference will include an open registration process which does not require participants to complete an application and receive an invitation to attend. Additionally, there will be no limit on the number of alumni attendees nor a limit on non-farmers and non-ranchers. It will be the best and biggest AgChat conference to date.

Click here for conference information.

Classic Records Smashed

Cindy ZimmermanCommodity Classic, Corn, Events

classic14-openWith more than 7,300 total attendees, the 2014 Commodity Classic convention and trade show in San Antonio shattered all previous records.

“We knew it was the biggest event ever, but the numbers really surprised us as we saw them rolling in over the course of the event,” said Commodity Classic Co-Chair Rob Elliott.

And the record numbers are impressive:
Total attendees – 7,325 – up 18% from 2013
Total growers – 3,874 – up 16.5%
First time attendees – 1,261
Trade show companies – 301

Next year will be the 20th annual Classic and it will take place in in Phoenix, Ariz., the city where it all started. Then in 2016, Commodity Classic welcomes a new affiliate, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) for a bigger and better show in New Orleans, including the addition of several components and a number of exhibitors from AEM’s 2013 AG CONNECT Expo & Summit.

2014 Commodity Classic Photos
Coverage is sponsored by John Deere

Today’s Farmer CEOs Reshaping Ag

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, Bayer CropScience, Commodity Classic, Farmers

bayer-aif14-farmersThe recent Bayer CropScience Ag Issues forum featured a panel of young farmers who really gave some insight into what it takes to run a modern farm.

The “How Today’s Farmer CEOs are Reshaping Modern Ag” panelists were (left to right) Chad Leman, co-owner of Leman Farms hog operation in Illinois; Jeremy Jack, partner at Silent Shade Planting Company in Mississippi; and Bruce “Onion Man” Frasier, owner of Dixondale Farms in Texas.

These guys discussed the everyday challenges they face running their farms, including training the next generation, new regulations, the public’s perception of farming, and weight of responsibility. They also discussed the importance of recording everything they do to help them track efficiencies and responsibilities.

Listen to the conversation here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/bayer/bayer-aif14-farmers.mp3″ text=”Bayer Ag Issues Farmer Panel”]

bayer-issues-button2014 Bayer CropScience Ag Issues Forum Photos

Ukrainian Hick Chick Chat

Leah GuffeyAudio, Hick Chick Chat, International

11326519286_c9a07ae0bf_oDuring the World Food Prize in October, I was fortunate to meet some people from Ukraine and learn more about the US-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC).

morgan_williams_250x200I have been thinking about them as the news has been tuned to the unrest happening there so I contacted my friend Michael Datsenko with the USUBC who put me in touch with his president and CEO Morgan Williams, who is currently in Kyiv, to get an update on the situation there and how it is impacting agriculture. (That’s not a typo – they spell it Kyiv not Kiev – and it’s just Ukraine, not THE Ukraine)

Via Skype I was able to talk with Williams about the financial picture for farmers and the export industry right now, the new minister of agriculture for the country, an agribusiness conference scheduled for this month that has been postponed, and much more.

Listen to my Ukranian Hick Chick Chat here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/podcast/hickchickchat-14-usubc-morgan-williams.mp3″ text=”Hick Chick Chat with Mr. Morgan Williams, US-Ukraine Business Council”]

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